ST. LOUIS — While he didn't take a direct jab at his team's No. 8 seeding, Kentucky coach John Calipari said it really wasn't a Round of 32 game he watched as his scrutinized, criticized and now coming-of-age team loaded with highly touted freshmen knocked off previously perfect and No. 1-seeded Wichita State on Sunday.

"I would say this was an Elite Eight (game) that the winner should have gone to the Final Four. That's how good they are and how good we're playing right now," Calipari said after his Wildcats beat Wichita State 78-76, ending the Shockers' season at 35-1.

Kentucky, now 26-10 in a season that hasn't been perfect, advances to play defending champ Louisville in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Indianapolis.

Kentucky was the preseason No. 1 with heralded recruits such as twins Andrew and Aaron Harrison and Julius Randle. They led the way Sunday and now have a shot to finish where they started — No. 1.

"All of the adversity we have been through all season, just to see us coming together as a team and getting better each game and finally get a big win like that, just enjoyed it," said the 6-9 Randle, one of Kentucky's five freshmen starters.

You can debate whether Kentucky's seeding was too low, creating a distorted matchup between two teams that shouldn't have crossed paths this early.

But the matchup was there in the Midwest bracket. It wasn't decided until Wichita State guard Fred VanVleet missed a three-point try at the buzzer.

"We have the ball in the air from the MVP of our league (Missouri Valley Conference), who is a clutch performer. So it didn't go this time,'' Wichita State Coach Gregg Marshall said.

Marshall's team made the Final Four last season. Might this have been the greatest Round of 32 game ever?

"I hope it goes down as a great one," Marshall said. "I am not ashamed to come out on the losing end. I just feel badly that these guys, I can't coach them anymore this season."

On Dec. 28, Kentucky played at home when it beat Louisville 73-66. This Kentucky team of March looks better than the team of December.

"Here's what happened with this team,'' Calipari said. "They are now putting themselves in a position where they're now accepting roles how they have to play. So we're becoming a better team. Individuals are losing themselves into the team, so they're playing better and more confident."

The Wildcats had their ups and downs against Wichita State, which made a 17-4 run in the first half to turn a 19-15 deficit into a 32-23 lead. They've certainly had their struggles this season.

But they came here on the heels of a run in the SEC tournament that ended when they lost by a point to Florida, No.1 seed overall in the NCAA field. And they kept it going in two games here.

"They have been attacked, they have been bludgeoned, they can't play, they're not a team, you can't do it this way," said Calipari.

"But they stayed together. It makes you strong. It makes you tough as nails. And we just hung around."

For at least another game.

"We just felt good beating a great team," Andrew Harrison said. "Even in this tournament, we're still getting better."

Was this weekend a relief for Calipari?

"If wins are relief, it's time for me to retire," he said. "This was great joy in seeing a group of young men come together and start figuring this out. It took longer than I'd hoped."

Gonzaga Bulldogs guard David Stockton (11) attempts a shot while defended by Arizona Wildcats forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) during the first half of their third-round game.
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Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Gary Bell, Jr. (front) tries to control the ball as Arizona Wildcats guard Jordin Mayes (20) falls down in the lane during he first half of their third-round game.
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Wichita State Shockers forward Cleanthony Early (11) dunks the ball between Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) and James Young (1) during the first half in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship at Scottrade Center.
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Kentucky's Willie Cauley-Stein (15) dunks the ball defended by Wichita State Shockers forward Darius Carter (12) and Cleanthony Early (11) during the first half in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship at Scottrade Center.
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Josh Gasser (21) makes a 3-point shot in the second half of a men's college basketball game against the Oregon Ducks during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
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Michigan Wolverines forward Jordan Morgan (52) dunks the ball in the second half of a men's college basketball game against the Texas Longhorns during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournamentc at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
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North Dakota State Bison forward Jordan Aaberg (44, second from right) is defended by San Diego State Aztecs forward JJ O'Brien (20, third from right) and forward Josh Davis (22) in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena.
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Villanova Wildcats guard Josh Hart (3) drives to the basket against Connecticut Huskies in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at First Niagara Center.
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Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) drives to the basket, guarded by Oregon Ducks forward Richard Amardi (13) in the second half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
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Michigan State Spartans guard Gary Harris (14) dunks against the Harvard Crimson in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena.
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North Dakota State Bison guard Lawrence Alexander (12, top) falls over San Diego State Aztecs forward JJ O'Brien (20) in the second half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena.
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Michigan Wolverines forward Glenn Robinson III (1) battles Texas Longhorns center Prince Ibeh (44) for a rebound in the second half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
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Connecticut Huskies Phillip Nolan (0) holds onto the ball against Villanova Wildcats in the second half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at First Niagara Center.
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Dayton Flyers forward Dyshawn Pierre (21) has his shot blocked by Syracuse Orange forward C.J. Fair (5) in the second half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at First Niagara Center.
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Harvard Crimson guard/forward Wesley Saunders (23, left) and Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45, right) fight for the ball in the second half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena.
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Oregon Ducks guard Damyean Dotson (21) and Wisconsin Badgers forward Nigel Hayes (10) fight for a rebound in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
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San Diego State Aztecs guard Aqeel Quinn (10) shoots against North Dakota State Bison forward Jordan Aaberg (44) and forward Chris Kading (34) in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena.
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Dayton Flyers guard Vee Sanford (43) shoots over Syracuse Orange guard Tyler Ennis (11) in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at First Niagara Center.
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Villanova Wildcats forward Daniel Ochefu (23) controls the ball as Connecticut Huskies Phillip Nolan (0) in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at First Niagara Center.
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Bronson Koenig (24) drives to the basket, guarded by Oregon Ducks guard Johnathan Loyd (10) in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
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San Diego State Aztecs guard Aqeel Quinn (10) and guard D'Erryl Williams (11) celebrate after a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament against the North Dakota State Bison at Veterans Memorial Arena.
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Oregon Ducks guard Joseph Young (3) passes the ball in the second half of a men's college basketball game against the Wisconsin Badgers during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
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Harvard Crimson players celebrate against the Michigan State Spartans in the second half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena.
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Connecticut Huskies guard Shabazz Napier (13) drives past Villanova Wildcats guard Tony Chennault (5) in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at First Niagara Center.
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North Dakota State Bison guard Taylor Braun (24) shoots against San Diego State Aztecs forward Skylar Spencer (0) in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena.
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Dayton Flyers guard Jordan Sibert (24) drives tot he basket past Syracuse Orange guard Trevor Cooney (10) in the second half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at First Niagara Center.
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Connecticut Huskies guard Ryan Boatright (11) shoots as Villanova Wildcats forward Daniel Ochefu (23)] defends in the second half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at First Niagara Center.
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Harvard Crimson forward Steve Moundou-Missi (14) celebrates against the Michigan State Spartans in the second half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena.
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North Dakota State Bison forward Jordan Aaberg (44) is defended by San Diego State Aztecs forward Josh Davis (22, left) and forward JJ O'Brien (20, right) in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena.
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Oregon Ducks guard Joseph Young (3) drives to the basket past Wisconsin Badgers guard Josh Gasser (21) in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
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San Diego State Aztecs guard Xavier Thames (2) shoots against the North Dakota State Bison in the second half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena.
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Texas Longhorns forward Jonathan Holmes (10) looks to pass in the second half of a men's college basketball game against the Michigan Wolverines during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
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San Diego State Aztecs players celebrate against the North Dakota State Bison in the second half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena.
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Michigan Wolverines guard Derrick Walton Jr. (10) passes the ball in the second half of a men's college basketball game against the Texas Longhorns during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
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Villanova Wildcats guard Ryan Arcidiacono (15) drives to the basket as Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Niels Giffey (5) defends in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at First Niagara Center.
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Wisconsin Badgers guard Ben Brust (1) passes the ball around Oregon Ducks guard Damyean Dotson (21) in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at BMO Harris Bradley Center.
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Dayton Flyers forward/center Devon Scott (40) looks to shoot as Syracuse Orange forward C.J. Fair (5) defends in the first half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at First Niagara Center.
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Michigan State Spartans guard/forward Branden Dawson (22) talks to guard Gary Harris (14) against the Harvard Crimson in the second half of a men's college basketball game during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at Veterans Memorial Arena.
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